Focusing on male reproductive health and promoting men's responsibility and participation (Part 1)

Focus on male reproductive health

Promoting male responsibility and participation

Xi Xiaoping, Director of the Publicity and Education Department of the National Population and Family Planning Commission; and Mo Lixia, Director of the News Management Division.

Reproductive health is a concept formally introduced in the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in September 1994. It refers to the physical, mental and social health of the reproductive system and all matters relating to its functions and processes, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The main components of reproductive health include: (1) the ability to have satisfactory and safe sexual relations; (2) fertility; (3) the freedom and responsibility to decide the timing and number of children; (4) the right of couples to know and access safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning; (5) the right to access reproductive health services; and (6) the ability of women to safely conceive and give birth to healthy babies. In the decade following the International Conference on Population and Development, reproductive health, as an important aspect of population issues, has received increasing global attention. Governments worldwide have continuously adjusted and improved relevant policies and strategies in accordance with the requirements of reproductive health, and have made it a long-term development goal.

Reproductive health is central to human life, encompassing reproductive-related health issues at every stage of the life cycle, affecting both women and men. From a gender perspective, there are three main international concepts in reproductive health: first, emphasizing women's reproductive health or woman-centered reproductive health; second, advocating for male responsibility and participation; and third, focusing on male reproductive health. The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Human Development comprehensively outlines these three concepts. In my country, the concept of reproductive health has undergone a shift from women's to men's, a process of deepening understanding and continuous development in practice-from emphasizing women's reproductive health to advocating for male participation, and then to focusing on male reproductive health.

I. Emphasizing Women's Reproductive Health

For a long time, health issues related to human reproduction have been categorized under maternal and child health care. The term "reproductive health" is easily understood literally as the hygiene and health care of women's reproductive system. When Western women's groups first proposed the concept of reproductive health, they linked birth control with women's liberation. Through long-term efforts, development, and continuous improvement, reproductive health has been given a deeper meaning and a broader context, gradually gaining acceptance from the international community. This demonstrates that the formation of the concept of reproductive health has been a long process.

In my country, from a practical perspective, activities related to reproductive health have a long history. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, various tasks related to reproductive health services were gradually launched, but mainly focused on maternal and child health care and family planning. The comprehensive development of reproductive health services in China only began after the 1990s, and initially, the understanding and practice of reproductive health were centered on women. Peng Peiyun, then State Councilor and Director of the National Family Planning Commission, summarized reproductive health at the International Symposium on Women's Reproductive Health held in Beijing in June 1994 on behalf of the Chinese government, stating: "Women's reproductive health is a new concept with profound meaning and broad scope, but in practice, its purpose is to: ensure women's health, safety, and happiness at different physiological stages; ensure children's survival and healthy growth; and ensure that women have equal rights and autonomy with men in sexual life and reproduction, while also bearing responsibilities and obligations to society." She also pointed out that such a new concept should be studied and practiced in light of the different circumstances of various countries to make a greater contribution to the health of Chinese women and children.

It was at this conference that the connotation of women's reproductive health in my country was defined as follows: (1) Women's reproductive health, including different stages of a woman's entire life cycle, should be healthy, safe, and happy; (2) Women have reproductive capacity and should have the right to regulate their fertility; (3) Women should receive high-quality health care services during pregnancy and childbirth to ensure maternal and infant safety; (4) Women have the right and obligation to raise children to grow up healthily and receive various health care services for children from society; (5) Women can have normal, harmonious, and safe sex lives without worrying about unintended pregnancy or the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases; (6) Reproduction is the core of women's reproductive health, and they should receive good contraceptive and family planning services and reproductive-related medical and health care services, including safe abortion for unintended pregnancy; (7) Reproduction not only involves women's health and rights, but men are also necessary participants. Therefore, reproductive health, reproductive rights, and social responsibility must all include men. Women face far greater risks during reproduction than men. Therefore, men should bear greater responsibility in maintaining and promoting reproductive health; (8) To improve and enhance the quality of reproductive health services and ensure and improve women's reproductive health, a corresponding service system is necessary. As can be seen from the above eight aspects, in the early 1990s, my country's understanding and practice in the field of reproductive health mainly focused on women's reproductive health.

To promote women's reproductive health and provide knowledge and services related to reproductive care for women of childbearing age, China has been conducting comprehensive outreach and education programs covering the "five periods of women's life cycle" since 1995: puberty, early marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, childbearing, and menopause. While this includes elements of male participation, the program is primarily focused on promoting women's reproductive health and remains woman-centered.